Film unit and apparatus for use therewith

ABSTRACT

A self-processing film unit including an image-recording element separably coupled to a rigid frame; is usable in photographic apparatus having means for separating the element from the frame. Grooves in the frame underlie the image-recording element for receiving and guiding stripper fingers of the apparatus as the fingers are moved in a longitudinal direction relative to the element. After penetrating between the element and the frame, relative movement in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is effected between the fingers and the frame to accentuate the separating action of the fingers.

United States Patent Kindig 1 Dec. 12, 1972 s41 FILM UNIT AND APPARATUSFOR USE I I 4 THEREWITH p Primary Examiner- .10m M. Horan I i L nfissistdirrEitdfiiiiiffi-Alan A. Mathews [72] Inventor. gulford EdwinKindig, Rochester, H Kline et a1 [73] Assignee: Eastmanv Kodak Company,4 ABSTRACT Rochester, N.Y. Y A self-processing-zfilm unit including animage-record- Fil d; J l 2, 1971 ing element sepaifahly coupled to arigid frame; is usable in photographic apparatus having means for [21]APPL 159322 1 V separating the element from the frame. Grooves in theframe underlie the image-recording element for [521' U.S. Cl u ..95Il3,96/29 1 ceiving and guiding stripper fingers of the apparatus [5111m.c|....; ..G03b 17/57: as the fingers arefmoved in longitudinaldirection '[58] Field of Search ..9s/13 14- 96/29 76*" "lame the Em -APenemfing between the ,1 element and the frame, relative movement in a 1direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal [56] References udirection is effected between the fingers and the frame UNITED STATESPATENTS to accentuate the separating action of the fingers.

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ATTORNEYS 1 FILM UNIT AND APPARATUS ronusa rnnnnwmr BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates toself-processing cameras and to film units for use therewith. Morespecifically the invention pertains to means for separating a print orimage-recording element from other portions of a film unit.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art It is well known in thephotographic arts to provide film units with materials for processingthe units immediately after their exposure. Generally, such film unitsinclude an image-recording unit defined by a the composition in-a layerof predetermined thickness between the two elements. The distributedcomposition then permeates the radiation-sensitive layers to effectdevelopment of the latent image, and a visible image representing thedeveloped latent image is constructed in a mordant or image-receivinglayer supported by either of the photosensitive and second elements.

' In a presently popular commercial film unit, generally referred to asbeing of the peel-apart type, the photosensitive and second elements arespaced apart from each other during exposure and are superimposed forprocessing. The image-or print-receiving layer is in the second element,and that element is stripped from the rest of the unit after processingto provide a positive right-reading print. Such film units aredisclosed, for example, in US. Pat. Nos. 3,080,805

and 3,511,659.

The present invention, however, is more directly concerned withdifferent types of image-recording units, generally referred to as beingpreregistered' or integral. The photosensitive and second elements of apreregistered image-recording unit are superposed or registered prior toexposure, while the same sheets of an integral image-recording unit aremaintained permanently in superposed or registered relation during andafter processing. More particularly, the present invention is disclosedin connection with a film unit comprising an image-recording unit thatis both preregistered and integral. This type of image-recording unitincludes photosensitive and process'elernents that are superposed priorto exposure, and define a composite, permanently registered structuredesigned to remain substantially in the same physical form afterprocessing. In presently known image-recording units of this type, thesecond element generally is transparent to permit exposure of theradiation-sensitive layers from that side of the unit, and the mordantor receiving layer is located either in the second element or,preferably, in the photosensitive element, to provide a positive imagethat need not be stripped from the rest of the unit. Further details offilm units employing this latter type of image-recording unit aredisclosed, for example, in commonly assigned, US. Pat. application Ser.No. 27,990 entitled PI-IOTOGRAPI-IIC FILM UNIT FOR DIFFUSION TRANSFERPROCESSING, filed Apr. 13, 1970 in the name of H. E. Cole and nowabandoned; in French Pat. Nos. 2,006,255 and 2,006,256 published Dec.26, 1969.

To facilitate the handling and manipulation thereof, an image-recordingunit of the type just described can be removably attached to asubstantially rigid plastic frame that also carries the processing fluidcontainer or pod and the excess fluid collector or trap. Theimagerecording unit is releasably or strippably coupled to the frame,while the pod and trap are permanently attached thereto such that theimage-recording unit can be separated from the other elements of thefilm unit after initiation of the processing operation.

To separate the print from the frame, it has been proposed previously toprovide the frame with grooves or slots that extend along its lateraledges in confronting relation to the marginal surfaces of the imagerecording unit. As the film unit moves endwise along a predeterminedpath in the camera, rigidly mounted skiving or stripper fingers in thecamera enter those grooves to wedge the leading end of the print out ofengagement with the frame. For purpose of the present disclosure, itwill be understood that the terms leading end and trailing end refer tothose ends of the film unit or image-recording unit that are first andlast to encounter the stripping device, respectively, regardless of thedirection of movement of the unit during the processing operation.Similarly, the terms print and print unit refer to the image-recordingunit, usually after its processing has been initiated, but notnecessarily after processing is completed or an actual visible print hasappeared. After the fingers have entered between the print and theframe, continued movement of the film unit causes the separated end ofthe print to be directed through a slot or door in the camera housing.Examples of such a film unit and of the aforementioned type of stripperor skiving fingers are disclosed, for example, in commonly assigned US.Pat. application Ser. No. 1 11,472 entitled STRIPPING MECHANISM andfiled in the name of Donald M. Harvey on Feb. 1,1971.

To facilitate their proper operation, the tips of the stripper fingersjust described generally are pointed at an acute angle to ensure theirpenetration between the print and the frame. While such an acuteconfiguration is entirely satisfactory for its intended purpose, it hasthe concurrent disadvantage in fixed stripper fingers of providing arelatively slow separation rate, due to the small wedging angle or angleof separation it compels the print to follow relative to the frame.

Similarly, the grooves for guiding the fixed stripper fingers describedabove extend the entire length of the frame, but then terminate abruptlyjust short of the trailing end of the frame because of light-sealingconsiderations. Since the stripping operation preferably is performedduring the movement of the film unit back into a storage compartment ina film pack or magazine, the stripper fingers generally must projectinto or lie closely adjacent to the film pack casing or magazine toallow the film unit to move out of cooperative relation with thosefingers after the stripping operation is completed. In other words,because of the abrupt blind ends of the grooves, the film unit cannotmove completely past the stripping fingers unless the fingers arelocated adjacent to the final position of the'film unit. This obviouslyimposes undesirable limitations of the design of the camera and alsorequires corresponding openings for the fingers in the magazine or filmpack casing, which may be detrimental to the strength or light-sealingrequirements of the structure. Furthermore, it will be apparent that theextension of the slots or grooves along the entire length of therelatively thin frame rails causes a corresponding weakening of thoserails.

Still further, in film units of the above-described type, having guidinggrooves in the frame that extend over substantially the entire length ofthe film unit, the adhesive or other means for coupling theimage-recording portion to the frame ordinarily must be located adjacentto the grooves, and therefore also adjacent to the path of the stripperfingers. Thus, the stripping action exerted on the image-recordingportion by the fingers ordinarily must pry that portion loose from aposition that is only adjacent to that adhesive, as distinguished fromthe now preferred method of actually skiving right through the adhesivewith the stripping fingers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A principal object of the present invention isto improve stripping devices of the general type described above byproviding a more abrupt and positive separation of the leading end ofthe finished print from the film unit-frame.

Another object of the invention is to improve the subject type ofself-processing camera by enabling the stripping device to be locatedbeyond the film pack loaded into the camera.

Yet another object of the invention is to improve the structuralintegrity of a rigid frame film unit provided with stripper fingergrooves by terminating those grooves adjacent to the leading end of theimagerecording unit rather than extending them the full length of thelatter unit.

Briefly, these and other related objectives are accomplished inaccordance with the invention by providing means for effecting relativeseparating movement between the film-unit frame and the stripperfingers, in generally perpendicular relation to the film unit, after thefingers have penetrated between the frame and the leading end of theprint, thereby accentuating the separation of the print from the frame.This can be accomplished either by moving the stripper fingers relativeto the camera or by causing the film unit to move away from the stripperfingers. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the stripperfingers also are withdrawn completely out of the grooves in the frame assoon as the leading end of the print is separated, thus avoiding theneed to extend those grooves along the entire length of the frame.Because the stripper fingers are removed from the frame grooves beforethe film unit frame reaches its final position, the fingers can belocated beyond the film pack casing rather than extending into thatcasing.

Various means for practicing the invention and other advantages andnovel features thereof will be apparent from the following detaileddescription of the illustrated preferred and alternative embodiments ofthe invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings inwhich like reference numerals denote like elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In'the accompanying drawings:

FIGrl is a perspective view of the reverse face of a preregisteredintegral film unit of the type with which the present invention isconcerned;

FIG. is a perspective view of the reverse face of a cover plate used inconjunction with a plurality of film units of the type shown in FIG. 1to provide a film unit assemblage;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a film pack casing adapted to receive afilm unit assemblage comprising a plurality of film units and a coverplate of the types shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary partially cross-sectioned end view of a fullyloaded film pack comprising components of the types shown in FIGS. 1 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an illustrative camera embodying thepreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional view of the cameradepicted in FIG. 5 with certain components thereof shown in a movedposition;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the illustrative cameraillustrating the preferred embodiment of the film stripping device towhich the present invention is specifically directed;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are enlarged cross-sectional views showing the operationof the film stripping device depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 10 corresponds generally to FIGS. 8 and 9 but illustrates amodification of the film unit and stripping device shown in thosefigures which embodies a first alternative embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIGS. l1, l2 and 13 correspond generally to FIGS. 8 and 9 but illustratethe operation of a second alternate embodiment of the invention in whichthe stripper fingers are immovable with respect to the camera.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Because processing cameras andfilm units are well known, the present description will be directed inparticular to elements forming part of or cooperating directly with thepresent invention. Elements not specifically shown or described hereshould be understood as being selectable from those known to personsskilled in the art.

By reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a typical preregistered andintegral film unit 21 of the type described above will be seen tocomprise a frame 22; an image-recording portion or unit 23 including arearward photosensitive element or sheet 24 and a forward process sheet25; a processing fluid container or pod 26; and an excess fluidcollector or trap 27. As previously mentioned, the image-recording unitis exposed from its forward side, through the transparent process sheet,but the finished print is viewed from the rearward face of thephotosensitive sheet depicted in FIG. I. The frame 22 is preferably madeof an opaque generally rigid (but slightly flexible) plastic material,

mAmn m4:

and includes two side rails 28 joined at one end by a trap bar29. At theopposite end, the side rails are connected by an end or pod support bar31 and by a cross bar 32.

As described in greater detail in the aforementioned US. Pat.Application Ser. No. 111,472, the two sheets 24 and 25 of theimage-recording unit preferably are rectangular and coextensive with oneanother and can be maintained in registered or superposed facingrelation by any appropriate edge seal or connection. Regardless of theparticular type of edge seal or connection or its manner of application,the two sheets are secured substantially in direct contacting relationto each other along their lateral marginal edges in such a manner thatthe central exposure areas of the sheets, depicted between broken lines33 in FIG. 1, are retained in registered overlying relation but may bespread apart sufficiently to permit the distribution of a processingcomposition therebetween. Similarly the two sheets are resilientlyseparable from one another to permit the introduction of the processingcomposition between their pod ends 34 and the collection of excessprocessing composition from between their trap ends 35.

As shown at numeral 36, the side rails of the frame provide flatrearwardly facing mounting surfaces lying substantially in a singleplane for supporting the marginal edges of the image-recording unit andto which such marginal edges are separably secured, preferably by arupturable adhesive material. Beyond the lateral edges of theimage-recording unit, edge ribs 38 extend rearwardly from the frame andare joined at the pod end by a similar end rib 39. As described indetail below, these ribs serve as light barriers when a plurality offilm units are assembled into an assemblage and also perform guidingfunctions as subsequent film units are removed from and replaced intosuch an assemblage.

The fluid processing pod 26 may include various cooperating parts whichdefine a suitable processing composition supplying mechanism, andpreferably includes a rupturable containing part 41 comprising arectangular piece of vapor-impervious material that is folded along oneedge and sealed along its lateral sides. The discharge end 42 of thepod, sometimes referred to as a funnel, is inserted between the adjacentends 34 of the photosensitive and process sheets. A rupturable seal isprovided along substantially the entire length of the discharge end ofthe pod and is adapted to release a processing fluid composition 43 fromthe container upon the application of hydraulic forces, generated bypassing the pod between a pair of juxtaposed pressure applying members,as described below. The fluid containing part of the fluid supplymechanism is permanently cemented to a cardboard shim 44 which, in turn,is permanently attached to the film unit frame.

The trap bar 29 is provided with a shallow rearwardly facing trap orcollector recess 45. The leading edge of the vapor-impermeable coversheet 45a overlies the adjacent end of the image-recording unit and theother three edges of sheet 45a are cemented or otherwise permanentlyattached to the frame adjacent to recess 45. Excess processing fluidextruded out of the trap end of the image-recording unit is thereforereceived and stored in the collector chamber or trap covered by sheet45a.

The trap cover sheet 45a does not extend the full width of theimage-recording unit but only slightly past the edges of the exposurearea or separable interface between the photosensitive and processsheets, which is approximately the same width as trap recess 45. Beyondthe lateral edges of the cover sheet, the frame is provided with a pairof stripper finger grooves 46 which are overlapped by the comers of thetrap end of the image-recording unit releasably bonded to the frame.These grooves are open to the corresponding end of the frame and theirbase surfaces 47 are provided at their blind ends with curved or slopingend portions 48 in front of the overlapping corners of theimage-recording unit. Analogous stripping finger grooves are alsoprovided in the film unit disclosed in the aforementioned US. Pat.application Ser. No. 111,472, but it is important to note that thosegrooves extend the full length of the image-recording unit whereas thegrooves 46 terminate a short distance beyond the trap end of theimage-recording unit. It should be understood also that the dimensionsof various features of the illustrative film unit have been exaggeratedin the drawings for purposes of clarity and that these grooves arerelatively narrower and shallower in an actual film unit than in theillustrations.

The film units described above are preferably supplied in a film packcomprising a plurality of such units loaded into a film-pack casing 49best shown in FIG. 3. The casing is made of plastic or sheet metal andcomprises side walls 51, a full end wall 52, an opposite partial endwall 53. and a rearward wall 54 provided with a rectangular opening 55adjacent to wall 53. Lateral retaining lips 56 project inwardly from theforward edges of the side walls and a similar end retaining lip 57likewise projects inwardly from the forward edge of end wall 52.

FIGS. 4 and 6 illustrate a fully loaded film pack, which is depicted ascomprising a film unit assemblage including a plurality of film units 21initially protected by a cover plate 59. The cover plate is of the sameexterior dimensions as the film units and includes similar edge ribs 62and an end rib 63, best shown in FIG. 2. As illustrated in FIG. 4, theedge and end ribs of the cover plate and the film units cooperate in anoverlapping or labyrinth manner to make the film unit assemblagesubstantially light-tight except along its trap end, which is protectedfrom light by confronting against the inner face of easing end wall 52.For reasons explained below, the cover plate is also provided withstripper finger grooves 64 which correspond to those in the film unitframes. Four leaf springs 65 are formed integrally with the rearwardwall 54 of the film pack casing and bias the film unit assemblageforwardly into contact with retaining lips 56 and 57. Because partialend wall 53 is narrower in a forward-to-rearward direction than the filmpack casing, it will be seen that the forwardmost element of the filmunit assemblage can be slid out of that end of the film pack casing andcan be returned to the casing at the rear of the assemblage by beinginserted into the casing opening between partial end wall 53 andrearward wall 54.

By reference to FIG. 5, the illustrative camera will be seen to comprisea rectangular housing 66 provided with a rigid forwardly extendingenclosure 67 that supports the camera lens 63 and an appropriate shutterand diaphragm mechanism, not shown. When the film pack is loaded intothe camera, it is accurately positioned within housing 66 so that thephotosensitive sheet of a film unit seated against the film pack casinglips 56 and 57 is coincident with a focal plane of the camera lens. Adrawer or frame transporter 69 is slidably mounted within the camerahousing and can be reciprocated manually by means of its accessible endwall 71 to move it between the closed position shown in FIG. and theopen position shown in FIG. 6. For purposes of the present disclosure,it will suffice to understand that the drawer 69 includes a pair ofopposed side bars 72 that straddle the film pack casing, one of suchbars being depicted in FIG. 6. Each side bar, in turn, includes a rib 73that lies forwardly of the corresponding film pack casing lip 56 andthat carries a hook 74. When the drawer is in its fully closed position,hooks 74 are received between the corresponding ends of casing end walllip 57 and the lateral casing lips 56 and are engageable with theadjacent end edge of the forwardmost element of the film unitassemblage. As the drawer is pulled to its open position, hooks 74 pushthat element out of the film pack casing and between a pair of opposedpressure rollers 75 and 76 that are biased toward each other byresilient spring means, not shown. When the trap end of the moving filmassemblage element engaged by hooks 74 has passed beyond the pressurerollers, it is supported temporarily by the forward face 77 of stripperguide bar 78, which is mounted to the camera housing by pins 79extending through slots 81 in the drawer side bars. The guide bartherefore maintains the trap end of the moving element in engagementwith hooks 74 until just before the drawer has reached its fully openposition.

A light leaf spring 82 is attached to the rearward surface of eachdrawer bar rib 73 and is compressed between that rib and thecorresponding casing lip 56 when the drawer is closed. During theopening movement of the drawer, springs 82 engage the front margins ofthe moving film assemblage element and urge it rearwardly with a lightresilient force. When the drawer has reached its open position, the filmassemblage element is beyond supported engagement with guide bar 78, asshown in broken lines at numeral 59 in FIG. 6. Accordingly, it can thenbe moved rearwardly by springs 82 to the position shown in solid linesin FIG. 6 so that its trap end rests on rearward guide surfaces 83 ofthe camera housing and its pod end rests on support surface 84 of thepartial rearward drawer wall 85. As shown in FIG. 7, surfaces 83 of thecamera housing are located at opposite sides of a slot 86 thataccommodates the partial drawer wall 85 and are straddled by converginglateral guide surfaces 87. In its rearward position just described, thefilm assemblage element is therefore in endwise alignment with theopening between the partial casing end wall 53 and the rearward casingwall 54. During the closing movement of the drawer, shoulder 88 ofdrawer wall 85 therefore pushes the film assemblage element into therearward compartment of the film pack casing, whereupon springs 65 biasit forwardly into stacked engagement with the other elements of the filmunit assemblage. The closing of the drawer also returns hooks 74 totheir initial position adjacent to the trap end of the film unit elementthen seated against the forward casing ribs.

Accordingly, it will be apparent that repetitive opening and closingmovements of the drawer will cause each element of the film unitassemblage, in turn, to be removed from its forwardmost position in thefilm pack and returned to the rear of the film unit assemblage.

The stripper finger construction shown in FIGS. 6 through 9 comprises apair of thin resilient metal stripper fingers 89, which are attached tothe camera housing by rivets 91 and extend through a sloping printremoval slot 92 in the rearward camera wall 93. As is best shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the tips of the stripper fingers are aligned with thestripper finger grooves in the film assemblage element being returned tothe film pack and are adapted to enter those grooves at the open endsthereof. The stripper guide bar 78 maintains the returning film unitelement in contact with the coplanar camera guide surfaces 83 so thatthe tips of the stripper fingers enter the stripper finger groovesclosely adjacent to the base surfaces 47 thereof.

During the initial opening and closing movements of the drawer, whichremove the forward cover plate from the film pack and replaces it at theback of the film unit assemblage, neither the pressure rollers nor thestripper fingers are required to perform any operative function. If thecover plate were not provided with stripper finger grooves 64, however,the square trap edge of that plate would abut against the tips of thestripper fingers during the return movement of the plate, which wouldeither block that movement or bend the fingers. By including thestripper finger grooves 64 in the cover plate, the return movement ofthe latter cams the stripper fingers rearwardly in the same mannerdescribed below in connection with the cooperation between the fingersand a film unit, thus allowing the cover plate to move past thestripping mechanism without damaging the latter. As shown in FIG. 7, theguide bar 78 is provided with a notch 94 which accommodates the shoulder88 of the partial drawer wall as the final closing movement of thedrawer pushes the cover plate all the way into the film pack casing.

When the opening movement of the drawer moves a film unit between theopposed rollers and 76, the sea] at the end of the processing fluid podbetween the edges 34 of sheets 24 and 25 is thereby ruptured and theprocessing fluid is extruded between those sheets. The passage of theimage-recording unit between the rollers distributes the processingfluid unifonnly between the photosensitive sheet and the process sheetto initiate development of the photographic image, and any excessprocessing fluid is extruded into the processing fluid trap. When thedrawer is fully open and the film unit has been moved rearwardly bysprings 82, the image-recording unit or print is ready to be separatedfrom the frame and removed from the camera.

At the beginning of the closing movement of the drawer, the leading ortrap end of the frame member moves behind stripper guide bar 78 as shownin FIG. 8, thereby causing the guide bar to maintain the frame incontact with guide surfaces 83. Concurrently, the converging lateralguide surfaces 87 position the leading end of the frame laterally inalignment with the film pack casing. Consequently, the open ends of thestripper finger grooves 46 are accurately aligned with the stripperfingers, which enter the respective grooves adjacent to their basesurfaces 47 as depicted in FIG. 8. Upon further movement of the filmunit, thetips of the stripper fingers enter the blind ends of thestripper finger grooves overlapped by the corresponding corners of theprint and encounter the sloped portions 48 of groove surfaces 47.Because the frame is prevented from moving forwardly by guide bar 78,its continuing endwise movement causes the sloped end portions of thegrooves to cam the stripper fingers rearwardly, thereby flexingthefingers'out of the grooves as shown in FIG. 9. This positive rearwardmovement of the tips of the stripper fingers causes abrupt and positiveseparation of the leading corners of the print from the frame anddirects the freed leading end of the print into print removal slot 92.Thereafter, the tips of the stripper fingers remain between the marginsof the print and the confronting frame surfaces and wedge the print freeof the frame as the movement of the latter continues. The print removalslot 92 in the camera housing can be provided with a resilient coverdoor or flap, not shown, which temporarily grips the trailing end of thefinished'print to prevent it from falling to the ground. After themovement of the film unit has caused the print to be completelyseparated from the frame, the tips of fingers 89 encounter end rib 39 ofthe frame. As shown in FIG. 1, the inner face 95 of this end rib issloped so that it earns the fingers to an extreme rearward position toallow the end rib of the frame to pass the stripping mechanism. Itshould be recognized that the stripper fingers need not necessarily beresilient themselves, as just described, but could be pivotally mountedand biased forwardly by relatively weak auxiliary spring means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT The embodiment of theinvention illustrated in FIG. 10 is basically the same as the embodimentjust described except that each of the two stripper finger grooves 96 inthe illustrative film unit frame 97 extends along the frame beyond alifting boss 98 provided with a sloped cam surface 99 that causes theinitial abrupt print separating movement of stripper fingers 101. Afterthe bosses have moved beyond the stripper fingers, the latter again moveforwardly into grooves 96 and continue the progressive separation of theprint while the movement of the frame proceeds. The opposite blind endsof slots 96, not shown, are sloped to eject the stripper fingers, whichare then bypassed by the end rib of the frame as previously described.This arrangement provides lateral guidance to the stripper fingersthroughout the entire print separation operation, thus permitting thefingers to be relatively narrow notwithstanding their correspondinglyincreased lateral flexibility.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SECOND ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT In the case of theembodiments of the invention described above, the initial positions ofthe two stripper fingers must be established very accurately to ensurethat the tips of those fingers properly enter the open ends of thecorresponding stripper finger grooves. Although this requirement can beachieved without undue complications, the inherent delicacy of themovable fingers makes them susceptible to being bent out of properadjustment, which could arise, for example, through the use of a coverplate or film unit frame having misformed or otherwise imperfectstripper fmger' grooves. To eliminate these potential problems, theembodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 11-13 comprises a cameracorresponding generally to the one heretofore described butin which thestripper fingers 102 are rigidly attached to or formed as-in integralpart of back wall 103 of the camera housing 104 adjacent to printremoval opening 105. The film unit 21 is identical to the one shown inFIG. 1 and its various illustrated features are identified by the samereference numerals used in that figure. Rearward guide surfaces 106 onthe back wall of the camera housing correspond to surfaces 83 shown inFIG. 7, but are disposed slightly rearwardly of the inner surface of therearward film pack casing wall 54, which is generally coplanar with asecond internal camera surface 107 located between the stripper fingersand the film pack casing.

As the film unit approaches the stripper fingers during the closingmovement of the drawer, it is urged rearwardly against surfaces 106 by apair of leaf springs 108 engaged with the marginal forward faces of thefilm unit frame. These springs are carried by a guide bar 109 that issimilar to guide bar 78 except that it does not directly engage the filmunit being returned to the film pack casing. Because the stripperfingers are immovably located with respect to the guide surfaces whichestablish the position of the leading frame edge as it approaches thefingers, the location of the tips of the rigidly mounted fingersrelative to frame grooves 46 can be established permanently with a highdegree of accuracy. This feature, therefore, guarantees that the tips ofthe stripper finger will properly enter the stripper finger grooves.

When the film. unit has moved sufficiently to bring the sloped endportions 48 of grooves 46 into contact with the tips of the stripperfingers, the leading or trap end of the film unit is cammed forwardly inopposition to springs 108 as shown in FIG. 12, thus providing thedesired abrupt separation of the leading end of the print from theframe. This forward movement of the leading end of the frame aligns itwith'the rearward chamber of the film pack casing so that the film unitenters that chamber as the closing movement of the drawer proceeds.During the further movement of the film unit, the fingers wedge themargins of the print out of engagement with the confronting framesurfaces, which are held in contact with the fingers by springs 108.After the print has been completely separated from the frame, the tipsof the fingers encounter the sloped inner face of frame end rib 39,which causes the trailing end of the frame to be cammed to the positionshown in FIG. 13 so that it can move beyond the fingers during the finalclosing movement of the drawer.

The invention has been described in detail with parrality ofself-processing film units, each of the film units including animage-recording elementand a carrier to which the image-recordingelement is strippably cou pled, said apparatus comprising:

means for receiving the plurality of film units and for locating thesuccessive ones of the film units in an exposure position;

means for effecting the exposure of the successive ones of the filmunits-when in the exposure position;

means for initiating the processing of the successive ones of the filmunits after the exposure thereof has been effected;

a transporting mechanism for transporting the successive ones of thefilm units sequentially from the exposure position, throughsaidprocessing initiat-' ing means, and then along a predetermined path;and

a stripping mechanism at least partially in the predetermined path toeffect stripping of the image-recording element from the carrier of eachof the successive ones of the film units after the processing thereofhas been initiated, said mechanism including a stripping member, meansfor guiding relative engaging movement between said stripping member andthe carrier along the predetermined path, and means for effectingmovement of one of said stripping member and said guiding means awayfrom the other of said stripping member and said guiding means in adirection substantially perpendicular to the predetermined path topermit movement of one of said stripping member and the carrier insubstantially said direction during the stripping of the image-recordingelement from the carrier.

2. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said stripping member isresiliently movable in substantially said direction.

3. The apparatus claimed in claim 2 wherein said stripping member isresiliently flexible.

4. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said guiding means isresiliently movable away from'the predetermined path.

5. The apparatus claimed in claim l wherein said movement of one of saidstripping member and the carrier in substantially said directionaccentuates the stripping of the image-recording element from thecarrier.

6. In a processing camera adapted to effect exposure and, initiateprocessing of a film unit, the film unit including a substantiallyrectangular image-recording unit defining leading and trailing ends andlateral margins, a generally rigid carrier defining a pair of groovesextending parallel to the lateral margins of the imagerecording unit,and means for separably coupling the image-recording unit to thecarrier, the camera including means for effecting endwise movement ofthe film unit in a predetermined direction and a pair of stripperfingers adapted to be received in the grooves of the carrier and toenter between the image-recording unit and the carrier to separate theimage-recording unit from the carrier, an improvement in means forinitiating separation of the image-recording unit from the carrier, saidimprovement comprising:

means for guiding the film unit relative to the stripperfingers duringthe endwise movement of the film unit in the predetermined direction,and means for effecting relative movement between said-guiding means andthe stripper fingers from respective first positions wherein thestripper fingers enter the grooves of the carrier to respective secondpositions wherein the stripper fingers are at least partially withdrawnfrom the grooves of the carrier to initiate separation of theimage-recording unit from the carrier.

7. The improvement claimed in claim 6 wherein said guiding means guidesthe film unit along a substantially straight path during the endwisemovement thereof in the predetermined direction, and wherein thestripper fingers are movable relative to said guiding means between thefirst positions thereof for entering the grooves and the secondpositions thereof at least partially withdrawn from the grooves.

8. The improvement claimed in claim 7 further comprising resilient meansbiasing the stripper fingers toward the first positions thereof.

9. The improvement claimed in claim 7 wherein the stripper fingerscomprise resilient elongate metal strips.

10. The improvement claimed in claim 6 wherein the stripper fingers aremounted in immovable relation to the camera, wherein the improvementfurther comprises a supporting surface fixed relative to the stripperfingers for supporting the carrier in alignment with the stripperfingers during a portion of the endwise movement of the film unit in thepredetermined direction to enable the stripper fingers to enter thegrooves, and wherein said guiding means includes resiliently movablemeans for yieldably retaining the carrier against said supportingsurface during said portion of the endwise movement of the film unit inthe predetermined direction to enable the stripper fingers to enter thegrooves and for permitting movement of the carrier away from saidsupporting surface after said portion of the endwise movement of thefilm unit to enable the stripper fingers to be at least partiallywithdrawn from the grooves.

11. In a camera adapted to effect exposure and initiate processing of aself-processing film unit, the film unit including a substantiallyrectangular image-recording element defining leading and trailing endsand lateral margins, a generally rigid frame defining camming means anda pair of grooves extending parallel with the lateral margins, and meansseparably coupling the lateral margins to the frame, a device forinitiating separation of the image-recording element from the framecomprising:

means for efiecting endwise movement of the film unit;

means defining at least one guide surface engageable with the frame forguiding at least a portion of the endwise movement of the film unit;means for retaining the frame against said guide surface during at leastsaid portion of the endwise movement of the film unit;

a pair of stripper fingers disposed for entering the grooves between theimage-recording unit and the frame and for engaging the camming meansduring said portion of the endwise movement of the film unit; and

means mounting one of said retaining means and said pair of stripperfingers for movement relative to said guide surface to enable one of theframe and said pair of stripper fingers, respectively, to move relativeto said guide surface, and thereby initiate the separation of theimage-recording element from the frame, in response to the stripperfingers entering the grooves between the image-recording unit and theframe and engaging the camming means during said portion of the endwisemovement of the film unit.

12. The device claimed in claim 11 wherein said movement of one of saidretaining means and said pair of stripper fingers relative to said guidesurface is in a direction transverse to said guide surface.

13. The device claimed in claim 11 wherein said retaining means isresiliently movable in a direction away from said guide surface toenable the frame to move in said direction, and thereby initiatethe-separation of the imagerecording element from the frame, in responseto the stripper fingers entering the grooves between the image-recordingunit and the frame and engaging the camming means during said portion ofthe endwise movement of the film unit.

14. The device claimed in claim 1 1 wherein said pair of stripperfingers is resiliently movable in a direction toward said guide surfaceto enable said pair of stripper fingers to move in said direction, andthereby initiate the separation of the image-recording element from theframe, in response to the stripper fingers entering the grooves betweenthe image-recording unit and the frame and engaging the camming meansduring said portion of the endwise movement of the film unit.-

1. Photographic apparatus adapted to effect exposure and initiateprocessing of successive ones of a plurality of selfprocessing filmunits, each of the film units including an imagerecording element and acarrier to which the image-recording element is strippably coupled, saidapparatus comprising: means for receiving the plurality of film unitsand for locating the successive ones of the film units in an exposureposition; means for effecting the exposure of the successive ones of thefilm units when in the exposure position; means for initiating theprocessing of the successive ones of the film units after the exposurethereof has been effected; a transporting mechanism for transporting thesuccessive ones of the film units sequentially from the exposureposition, through said processing initiating means, and then along apredetermined path; and a stripping mechanism at least partially in thepredetermined path to effect stripping of the image-recording elementfrom the carrier of each of the successive ones of the film units afterthe processing thereof has been initiated, said mechanism including astripping member, means for guiding relative engaging movement betweensaid stripping member and the carrier along the predetermined path, andmeans for effecting movement of one of said stripping member and saidguiding means away from the other of said stripping member and saidguiding means in a direction substantially perpendicular to thepredetermined path to permit movement of one of said stripping memberand the carrier in substantially said direction during the stripping ofthe image-recording elemeNt from the carrier.
 2. The apparatus claimedin claim 1 wherein said stripping member is resiliently movable insubstantially said direction.
 3. The apparatus claimed in claim 2wherein said stripping member is resiliently flexible.
 4. The apparatusclaimed in claim 1 wherein said guiding means is resiliently movableaway from the predetermined path.
 5. The apparatus claimed in claim 1wherein said movement of one of said stripping member and the carrier insubstantially said direction accentuates the stripping of theimage-recording element from the carrier.
 6. In a processing cameraadapted to effect exposure and initiate processing of a film unit, thefilm unit including a substantially rectangular image-recording unitdefining leading and trailing ends and lateral margins, a generallyrigid carrier defining a pair of grooves extending parallel to thelateral margins of the image-recording unit, and means for separablycoupling the image-recording unit to the carrier, the camera includingmeans for effecting endwise movement of the film unit in a predetermineddirection and a pair of stripper fingers adapted to be received in thegrooves of the carrier and to enter between the image-recording unit andthe carrier to separate the image-recording unit from the carrier, animprovement in means for initiating separation of the image-recordingunit from the carrier, said improvement comprising: means for guidingthe film unit relative to the stripper fingers during the endwisemovement of the film unit in the predetermined direction, and means foreffecting relative movement between said guiding means and the stripperfingers from respective first positions wherein the stripper fingersenter the grooves of the carrier to respective second positions whereinthe stripper fingers are at least partially withdrawn from the groovesof the carrier to initiate separation of the image-recording unit fromthe carrier.
 7. The improvement claimed in claim 6 wherein said guidingmeans guides the film unit along a substantially straight path duringthe endwise movement thereof in the predetermined direction, and whereinthe stripper fingers are movable relative to said guiding means betweenthe first positions thereof for entering the grooves and the secondpositions thereof at least partially withdrawn from the grooves.
 8. Theimprovement claimed in claim 7 further comprising resilient meansbiasing the stripper fingers toward the first positions thereof.
 9. Theimprovement claimed in claim 7 wherein the stripper fingers compriseresilient elongate metal strips.
 10. The improvement claimed in claim 6wherein the stripper fingers are mounted in immovable relation to thecamera, wherein the improvement further comprises a supporting surfacefixed relative to the stripper fingers for supporting the carrier inalignment with the stripper fingers during a portion of the endwisemovement of the film unit in the predetermined direction to enable thestripper fingers to enter the grooves, and wherein said guiding meansincludes resiliently movable means for yieldably retaining the carrieragainst said supporting surface during said portion of the endwisemovement of the film unit in the predetermined direction to enable thestripper fingers to enter the grooves and for permitting movement of thecarrier away from said supporting surface after said portion of theendwise movement of the film unit to enable the stripper fingers to beat least partially withdrawn from the grooves.
 11. In a camera adaptedto effect exposure and initiate processing of a self-processing filmunit, the film unit including a substantially rectangularimage-recording element defining leading and trailing ends and lateralmargins, a generally rigid frame defining camming means and a pair ofgrooves extending parallel with the lateral margins, and means separablycoupling the lateral margins to the frame, a device for initiatingseparation of the image-recording element from the fraMe comprising:means for effecting endwise movement of the film unit; means defining atleast one guide surface engageable with the frame for guiding at least aportion of the endwise movement of the film unit; means for retainingthe frame against said guide surface during at least said portion of theendwise movement of the film unit; a pair of stripper fingers disposedfor entering the grooves between the image-recording unit and the frameand for engaging the camming means during said portion of the endwisemovement of the film unit; and means mounting one of said retainingmeans and said pair of stripper fingers for movement relative to saidguide surface to enable one of the frame and said pair of stripperfingers, respectively, to move relative to said guide surface, andthereby initiate the separation of the image-recording element from theframe, in response to the stripper fingers entering the grooves betweenthe image-recording unit and the frame and engaging the camming meansduring said portion of the endwise movement of the film unit.
 12. Thedevice claimed in claim 11 wherein said movement of one of saidretaining means and said pair of stripper fingers relative to said guidesurface is in a direction transverse to said guide surface.
 13. Thedevice claimed in claim 11 wherein said retaining means is resilientlymovable in a direction away from said guide surface to enable the frameto move in said direction, and thereby initiate the separation of theimage-recording element from the frame, in response to the stripperfingers entering the grooves between the image-recording unit and theframe and engaging the camming means during said portion of the endwisemovement of the film unit.
 14. The device claimed in claim 11 whereinsaid pair of stripper fingers is resiliently movable in a directiontoward said guide surface to enable said pair of stripper fingers tomove in said direction, and thereby initiate the separation of theimage-recording element from the frame, in response to the stripperfingers entering the grooves between the image-recording unit and theframe and engaging the camming means during said portion of the endwisemovement of the film unit.